The Eternal Revolution - Paul E. Nowak

The Eternal Revolution
Paul E. Nowak
Eternal Revolution
ISBN 9780984710201
ASIN B00L03H2KW
 

My introduction to the works of Paul Nowak is his effort to rescue out of print books and bring them back to life in high quality eBooks. Specifically a book on The Life and letters of father Damien, Apostle to the Lepers, it was an excellent read, as was Paul's introduction to the work originally published in 1889. After reading that volume I read this book and have already picked up two others by Paul and have them in my to be read pile. This little book is a powder keg! And it will spark your spiritual life and set it aflame. The description of the book is:

"To be a Christian is to be at war with the world." The Eternal Revolution is a brief charge for Christians to see their lives as part of an unending battle for the Kingdom of Heaven, and provides an exciting perspective of following Jesus Christ as a daily fight that will endure until the end of our lives.

And it delivers on that promise. The book begins with a warning, the start of which is:

"This is a book written for Christians, that is, those who accept that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead. For those who believe Jesus was just a good man, or a fiction, or wrong, or that Christianity is basically about being good to others, kindness, and tolerance - this book is not for you. Close it now, and go read something else.

 There are many books that explain Christianity and attempt to justify it. This is not one of them. I would suggest G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy, one of many books bearing the title Introduction to Christianity, or, best of all, read through of our sacred text, the Bible. If you then find you accept the basics of our faith, then come back to this book."

And the warning is followed by three quotes:

"We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives."

Fight Club

Give me a reason
For life and for death
A reason for drowning
While I hold my breath
Something to laugh at
A reason to cry
With everyone hopeless
And hoping for something
To hope for 

Switchfoot,

Life and Love and Why

"The full value of this life can only be got by fighting; the violent take it by storm. And if we have accepted everything we have missed something - war. This life of ours is a very enjoyable fight, but a very miserable truce."

 G.K. Chesterton

And as can be seen by the description, warning, title and the three quotes, the direction of this book is clear. The sections in the book are:

Warning
You Are at War
Our War is an Eternal Revolution
Our Revolution is Fought Within
Set the World on Fire
Fighting the Eternal Revolution
Afterward

The sections in the chapter on 'Fighting the Eternal Revolution' are:

Martial Discipline
Heroic Virtue
Temperance
Prudence
Justice
Fortitude
Faith
Hope
Charity
Fearlessness
Memento Mori
Personal Acts of Charity

Having spend years involved in campus ministry, as a student, and as staff. This book is one I wish I had had at my disposal back then. This is a book I will read again and again. As soon as my children are a little older I will read it with them. And encourage them to read it annually, as I plan to do. This is a book that can change your life and through that change have a great impact on the world around you. The book ends with these words:

"The personal actions we choose to make will have more impact than any amount of words, financial contributions, or publicity we can muster for the work of others. If our example is consistent with our profession of faith, others will change their minds and attitudes - in this way the fire Christ came to kindle on earth will spread, making this world as much as possible a reflection of heaven, until the day the Kingdom of Heaven is firmly established.

This will not be easy. It is something you will have to fight for every day, in a thousand small ways. It will require you to choose God and others before everything else. It will eventually cost your life in this world, so that you may gain your life in the next."

It is true it will not be easy, but it will be worth far more than the effort. Pick up this book and let it challenge you, and as you grow in living out what you believe, and the lessons in this book you will be used to set the world on fire! This is an amazing read, so do not hesitate to pick it up now and give it your attention.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Paul E. Nowak:
The Way of the Christian Samurai: Reflections for Servant-Warriors of Christ
The Eternal Revolution: An Exhortation to the Modern Christian
I Hate Christmas! How to Identify and Overcome Your Inner Christmas Villain
The Inconvenient Adventures of Uncle Chestnut
Guerrilla Apologetics for Catholics
Guerrilla Apologetics for Life Issues
The Microcapitalist Manifesto
...

Books edited or reprinted by Paul E. Nowak:
The Life and Letters of Father Damien, Apostle of the Lepers - Edited by Pamphile De Veuster
Joan of Arc - Hilaire Belloc
Characters of the Reformation - Hilaire Belloc
...